In chemistry, we have helium (He), iron (Fe), and calcium (Ca)—but what about do, re, and mi? Recently, a college graduate used a method called data sonification to create visible light music generated by each element. The tunes created for each element are unique, complex blends, taking a first step toward an interactive, musical periodic table for exploration.
Previously, the project’s sole researcher, W. Walker Smith, combined his interests in music and chemistry by transforming the natural sound signatures of molecules into a musical composition. Smith says,
“Then I saw the visual representations of the discrete wavelengths of light emitted by different elements, like scandium. They were beautiful and complex, and I thought, ‘Wow, I really want to turn these into music.'”
Visible Light and Elemental Uniqueness
When elements are excited, they emit visible light. This light consists of a series of specific wavelengths or unique colors—a combination unique to each element and distinctive at certain brightnesses. But on paper, it’s very difficult to distinguish between the sets of wavelengths for different elements visually, especially for atomic metals, which can have thousands of distinct colors, says Smith. Converting light into sound frequencies can be another way for people to identify differences among the elements.
However, creating sounds for elements in the periodic table has been done before. For example, some scientists, after identifying the brightest wavelengths, assigned single notes to be played on a historic piano. But this approach reduces the rich diversity of wavelengths to just a handful of sounds, Smith explains, who is currently a researcher at Indiana University.
The Method of Making Music from Light Wavelengths
To preserve the complexity and various characteristics of element spectra, Smith enlisted the help of his Indiana University faculty mentors: Professor David Clemmer from the Chemistry Department and Professor Chi Wang from the Department of Music, among others. With their support, Smith developed a computer code for real-time audio that collects each element’s light data and transforms it into musical mixtures. Each spectral wavelength is represented as a unique sine wave corresponding to the relevant light wavelength, and their intensity matches the light’s brightness.
The Connection Between Light and Musical Harmonics
At first, Clemmer and Smith drew connections between the patterns of light colors and sound harmonics. For example, in the visible light spectrum, violet has almost half the wavelength of red, and in music, a doubling of frequency corresponds to an octave. Thus, visible light can be thought of as a kind of “light octave.” But this light octave can’t be heard directly because it is at much higher frequencies than our hearing range. Therefore, Smith scaled down the sine wave frequencies—by factors of about 10-12—so that every wavelength in the spectrum falls within the audible range for humans.
The Complexity of Translating to Sound
Because some elements have hundreds or thousands of frequencies, the code was designed to capture these tones in real time, blending them into a harmony and beating pattern. “The result is that simple elements like hydrogen and helium sound like musical chords, but for the others there’s a much more complex bouquet of sounds,” says Smith.
For example, calcium produces a chiming bell-like sound depending on how different frequencies interact. Hearing the notes of some other elements, Smith was reminded of a spooky ambience, similar to music used in cheesy horror films. He was particularly surprised that zinc, with its many colors, sounded like “singing a major chord with a choir of angels.”
Clemmer commented, “Some notes may not sound harmonious, but Smith has maintained fidelity to the data when translating the elements into music.”
In musical terms, these off-key tones—known as microtones in music—stem from pitches that don’t correspond to the notes found on a traditional piano. Echoing this, Wang said, “It is both challenging and rewarding to decide what to keep when doing data sonification, and Smith has done a tremendous job making those choices from a musical perspective.”
Next Step: A Musical Periodic Table
The next step is to turn this technology into a new musical instrument and showcase it in an exhibition at the WonderLab Museum of Science, Health and Technology in Bloomington, Indiana. Smith says,
“I want to create an interactive, real-time musical periodic table so that young people—and anyone interested—can select an element, see its visible light spectrum, and listen to how it sounds.”
He adds that this sound-based approach has potential as an alternative teaching tool in chemistry classes, as it includes those with visual impairments and different learning styles.
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